RECENTLY DIAGONESED

Hi, and welcome!

While I wish you didn't have need of a community like this one, I am glad you found us! Almost every member of this community has been where you are right now.

Being newly diagnosed can be an overwhelming time. And what I tell everyone who comes here with a new diagnosis is that whatever you are feeling is OK. If you feel mad or numb or confused or depressed or overwhelmed; that's ok. Let yourself feel how you need to and give yourself some time to process this news.

And looking up info online can be so helpful, but also scary, so proceed with caution.

I wanted to share some pieces written by our health leaders with tips for the newly diagnosed, as they have been there at one point. Here's one from health leader Stephanie -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/5-pieces-of-advice-for-the-newly-diagnosed. Also, Laura wrote a heartfelt letter for the newly diagnosed -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/a-letter-for-the-newly-diagnosed. If I had to boil down their advice for you, it would be this, "Don't panic. Find a community that understands, build a support system if you don't already have one. Find a knowledgeable doctor and don't be afraid to ask your doctor LOTS of questions if you need to. Remember that you can do this and you don't have to do it alone. Communities like this one are here for you."

Also, there are two great MS communities that have support groups and other kinds of support. The MSAA -- https://mymsaa.org/ and the NMSS -- https://www.nationalmssociety.org/. I would definitely check them out. NMSS has a great service called MS Navigator, where you can talk on the phone or online to an MS expert -- https://www.nationalmssociety.org/get-ms-support. It can be a great resource when you are feeling overwhelmed.

I hope this information is helpful for you and don't hesitate to reach out if you have further questions or concerns. We're happy to help in any way we can.

Best, Erin, Team Member.

Getting an MS diagnosis can feel overwhelming at first, but you don’t have to figure it all out at once! It can be a lot to process to take as much time as you need to adjust both mentally and emotionally first. Erin provide you with so many great links already and I hope you're able to check them all out. Try not to put pressure on yourself to have everything figured out right now. Focus on learning what your body needs, keeping track of how you feel, and leaning on your care team when you have questions. What do you feel like you need the most at this moment? -Latoya (Team Member)

than you Latoya